17 things to do today, Nov. 10, in Boulder County

Mirabai Starr will speak about and sign her new book, "Caravan of No Despair," tonight at the Boulder Book Store. (Courtesy Photo)

On the day her first book came out, Mirabai Starr's daughter, Jenny, was killed in a car accident. Even with decades of spiritual practice and a deep immersion in the greatest mystical texts, she found herself utterly unprepared. With "Caravan of No Despair," she shares an irreverent, uplifting and intimate memoir of her life journey. Through the many twists and turns of her life, Starr finds the courage to remain open and defenseless before the mystery of the divine, 7:30 p.m., Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St., Boulder, $5, 303-447-2074.

ART

Choices We Make, Paths We Take New water paintings by Elizabeth Black, still-life paintings by Margie Swift, and landscapes by Julie Oriet show through Dec. 7, all day, Mary Williams Fine Arts, 5311 Western Ave., Boulder; Free; 303-938-1588.

FILM

"I Smile Back" Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However, just beneath the façade lie depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion. Only very real danger will force her to face the painful root of her destructiveness and its crumbling effect on those she loves. Based on the 2008 novel by Amy Koppelman, 4:30 p.m., The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; $6-$11; 303-440-7826.

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"Shelter" Hannah and Tahir come from two different worlds. But when their lives intersect, they're at the same place: homeless on the streets of New York. How did they get there? As we learn about their past, we begin to understand that to have a future, they need each other. There are more than 50,000 homeless people living on the streets and in the shelters of New York City. To most of us they are nameless and faceless, and occasionally a nuisance. But every single person has a story. And Hannah and Tahir are no different. And theirs is a story of loss, love, hope and redemption, 7 p.m., The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; $6-$11; 303-440-7826.

TALKS & WORKSHOPS

Buster Simpson Visiting Artist Lecture Buster Simpson is one of the nations foremost environmental artists. For more than 30 years, he has engaged citizens in aesthetics, politics and the environment. Humor and rich metaphors distinguish his work, with many of his deceptively simple sculptures offering solutions to real problems. In May of 2015, Simpson conducted Rising Waters, a confab with artist, writers, scientists and habitat specialists at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation focusing on the climate change, 6:30 p.m., CU Visual Arts Complex, 18th St., Boulder; Free; bit.ly/1lgPhjE.

Explore Ireland: The Emerald Jewel In the fall of 2013, Stan Havlick and his wife Margaret opted to camp out for 15 of their 18 days on this magical island. There are ample camp grounds with castle and ocean views. This non tourist coach approach allows more flexibility for hiking and sight-seeing, and allows more resources for Guinness. Some of the photos and highlights discussed will include three nautical destinations to the Blasket, Aran and Skellig Michael Islands, an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site, 7 p.m., Changes in Latitude Travel Store, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; Free; 303-786-8406.

Clubs keeping eye on RPI rankingsIn the age of RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) determining playoff seeding in Colorado prep sports, playing a championship schedule has become more important than ever for any team expecting to compete for a state title. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story